Originally known for his role as Jimmy Brooks on the teen television show “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” Aubrey “Drake” Graham is now one of the hottest rap artists around, and he has once again managed to show us why.
Drake released his newest mixtape, “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late,” late Thursday night. Falling in line with successful artists Jay Z, Kanye and Beyoncé, Drake dropped the mixtape almost completely out of the blue. Social media users went crazy after finding out about the release, quickly downloading the album from iTunes and using other music sources as well.
Hot New Hip Hop has given the public some personal insight on the album.
The album starts with “Legend,” a slow building opener that sets the tone for the album. Drake sings about death and how he may be remembered should he pass away young.
“Energy” flows like “Started From The Bottom” and is followed by “10 Band,” a track that boasts a similar beat. These two pair up nicely, and Boi-1da’s instrumental work is the fire of the album thus far. Drake does not spit his nicest verses over these ones, but the lines are certainly entertaining.
“Know Yourself” jump-starts an eight-track run of slow songs. The influence of Drake’s time spent in Atlanta can be heard throughout these songs. As Drake is originally from Toronto, Canada, there is an eerieness that is prevalent for a large chunk of the album that showcases the tale of both these cities.
“6pm in New York” follows the “9 a.m. in Dallas” and “5am in Toronto” tracks. Fans of no-frills hip-hop have grown fond of this series because it is straight bars. On an album that will not go down for its extraordinary lyricism, it is much appreciated. This track also takes some stabs at artist Tyga, who tweeted and deleted a comment in response to Drake after its release.
Whether it is his acting or rap skills, there is no questioning why Drake seems to be everyone’s favorite.
Females especially seem to be head over heels for him and his cater-to-you song lyrics. Drake definitely has grown since his first debut in 2006, this being his fourth album with Young Money Cash Money Records. There is some speculation about Drake’s intentions for releasing this new mixtape. According to Forbes, “The mystery surrounding this album is intense, and has almost overshadowed the music.”
Even though fans were expecting “Views from the Six,” these 17 tracks are good enough to hold us over for a little while longer. Who could complain about a surprise release like this? The beats are pretty much perfect, the melodies are thoughtful and the vocals are nice. Job well done Drake, job well done.
